Chapter 3

DEAD LOADS, SOIL LOADS,

AND HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

3.1 DEAD LOADS 3.1.3 Weight of Fixed Service Equipment

3.1.1 Definition
Dead loads consist of the weight of all materials
of construction incorporated into the building includ-
ing, but not limited to, walls, floors, roofs, ceilings,
stairways, built-in partitions, finishes, cladding, and
other similarly incorporated architectural and struc-
tural items, and fixed service equipment including the
weight of cranes.
In determining dead loads for purposes of design, the
weight of fixed service equipment, such as plumbing
stacks and risers, electrical feeders, and heating,
ventilating, and air conditioning systems shall be
included.
3.2 SOIL LOADS AND
HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE

3.1.2 Weights of Materials and Constructions 3.2.1 Lateral Pressures

In determining dead loads for purposes of design,
the actual weights of materials and constructions shall
be used provided that in the absence of definite
information, values approved by the authority having
jurisdiction shall be used.
In the design of structures below grade, provision
shall be made for the lateral pressure of adjacent soil.
If soil loads are not given in a soil investigation report
approved by the authority having jurisdiction, then the
soil loads specified in Table 3.2-1 shall be used as the

Table 3.2-1 Design Lateral Soil Load

Unified Soil Design Lateral Soil Loada

Description of Backfill Material Classification psf per foot of depth (kN/m2 per meter of depth)
Well-graded, clean gravels; gravel–sand mixes GW 35 (5.50)b
Poorly graded clean gravels; gravel–sand mixes GP 35 (5.50)b
Silty gravels, poorly graded gravel–sand mixes GM 35 (5.50)b
Clayey gravels, poorly graded gravel-and-clay mixes GC 45 (7.07)b
Well-graded, clean sands; gravelly–sand mixes SW 35 (5.50)b
Poorly graded clean sands; sand–gravel mixes SP 35 (5.50)b
Silty sands, poorly graded sand–silt mixes SM 45 (7.07)b
Sand–silt clay mix with plastic fines SM–SC 85 (13.35)c
Clayey sands, poorly graded sand–clay mixes SC 85 (13.35)c
Inorganic silts and clayey silts ML 85 (13.35)c
Mixture of inorganic silt and clay ML–CL 85 (13.35)c
Inorganic clays of low to medium plasticity CL 100 (15.71)
d
Organic silts and silt–clays, low plasticity OL
d
Inorganic clayey silts, elastic silts MH
d
Inorganic clays of high plasticity CH
d
Organic clays and silty clays OH
a
Design lateral soil loads are given for moist conditions for the specified soils at their optimum densities. Actual field conditions shall govern.
Submerged or saturated soil pressures shall include the weight of the buoyant soil plus the hydrostatic loads.
c
For relatively rigid walls, as when braced by floors, the design lateral soil load shall be increased for sand and gravel type soils to 60 psf
(9.43 kN/m2) per foot (meter) of depth. Basement walls extending not more than 8 ft (2.44 m) below grade and supporting light floor systems
are not considered as being relatively rigid walls.
d
For relatively rigid walls, as when braced by floors, the design lateral load shall be increased for silt and clay type soils to 100 psf
(15.71 kN/m2) per foot (meter) of depth. Basement walls extending not more than 8 ft (2.44 m) below grade and supporting light floor
systems are not considered as being relatively rigid walls.
b
Unsuitable as backfill material.

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CHAPTER 3 DEAD LOADS, SOIL LOADS, AND HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE
minimum design lateral loads. Due allowance shall be
made for possible surcharge from fixed or moving
loads. When a portion or the whole of the adjacent
soil is below a free-water surface, computations shall
be based upon the weight of the soil diminished by
buoyancy, plus full hydrostatic pressure.
The lateral pressure shall be increased if soils
with expansion potential are present at the site as
determined by a geotechnical investigation.
3.2.2 Uplift on Floors and Foundations
In the design of basement floors and similar
approximately horizontal elements below grade,
12
the upward pressure of water, where applicable,
shall be taken as the full hydrostatic pressure applied
over the entire area. The hydrostatic load shall be
measured from the underside of the construction.
Any other upward loads shall be included in the
design.
Where expansive soils are present under founda-
tions or slabs-on-ground, the foundations, slabs, and
other components shall be designed to tolerate the
movement or resist the upward loads caused by the
expansive soils, or the expansive soil shall be
removed or stabilized around and beneath the
structure.